Nucleation/growth design by thermo-kinetic partition

Departing from nucleation and growth involved in phase transformations (PTs) and/or plastic deformations (PDs), thermodynamics, kinetics, and thermo-kinetic partition are described. It has been shown that the thermo-kinetic partition reflects the scale of the so-called thermo-kinetic correlation, and by combining with the reference state of PT or PD, corresponds to so-called generalized stability. Regarding the universality of nucleation/growth and thermo-kinetic partition, the principle of high thermodynamic driving force-high generalized stability has been reinterpreted by integrating nucleation and growth, separating nucleation and growth, and designing so-called negative driving forces, respectively. As such, the current materials design is classified, summarized, and prospected. This work is helpful to realize high strength and high plasticity by designing nucleation and growth.